Amy Fradon, formerly of the well-loved duo Amy Fradon and Leslie Ritter, has been quietly and steadily forging a solid name and reputation as a singer/songwriter. She is known for her richly textured, memorable concerts and for the impressive musicians she has been touring with for the past five years, now called Small Town News.

Amys music is laced with country, folk, pop, swing, blues and a capella riding on lovely melodies, humor, wisdom, and story-telling.

Amy started singing and writing when she attended NYU as a dance major. She sang Neil Young songs in the stairwell and began to draw small crowds on the steps which eventually spilled over into coffeehouses. She moved to Woodstock, NY when she spontaneously joined a band of fabulous musicians including, Cane Roberts (Alice Cooper band), Eric Parker (Joe Cocker and Steve Winwood). Gary Bonner (the Turtles) and Robbie Dupree. Blessed with a golden ear and a powerful, clear voice, Amy was soon in demand for recording sessions and touring as a harmony and lead singer. She found herself working with the Woodstock elite... names such as Maria Muldaur, Happy and Artie Traum, Robbie DuPree, Livingston Taylor, Ed Sanders and the Fugs, Orleans, Peter Yarrow, Tiny Tim, Rick Danko and Tim Moore.

Amy's glorious voice and magical stage presence landed her a part in the Broadway Touring Company of Pumpboys and Dinettes. She also starred in Ed Sander's treatment of the Legend of Cassandra, Neil Rolnick and Ed Sanders' Requiem Songs and as a regular singer on The Traum Brothers popular live radio concert series on WAMC, Bring It On Home. During this period, Amy formed a partnership with Leslie Ritter that led to two recording contracts (Alcazar and Shanachie Records), VH1 video, and two Adult Contemporary charting singles. The duo recorded 6 CDs before their break-up in 1995.

Amy currently works with the Vanaver Caravan in their tribute show to Woody Guthrie called Pastures Of Plenty which has been performed in Scotland, Germany, Czech Republic, Canada, and the U.S. She also works with a corporate interactive company called Face The Music which has taken her to Italy and England as well as all over the U.S. In 1999, Amy released her first solo CD called Passion Angel which was extremely well received at folk and Triple A radio. Dirty Linen said, "her songwriting is...very similar to the finest songs of Robbie Robertson" and "Fradon can let it rip with a curious hybrid of two parts Aretha Franklin soul to one part Maria McKee howl." Singout! referred to Passion Angel as one of the very best folk-pop albums to be produced in 1999.

Small Town News is the title track of Amy's second CD which features her outstanding band who now sport the same name. The title track was co-penned by fellow band member Tim Moore (Second Avenue, Rock and Roll Love Letter) and and tells of a singer who is the jewel of the same community she sings to each weekend. Amy is also a passionate teacher of voice and tells us that she has been moved to tears time and again by all the incredible singers she has seen worked with across America whom no one will ever hear about. Her band, Tim Moore (piano and acoustic), Ken McGloin (acoustic), Mark Murphy (upright bass/cello), and Vickie Russell and Amanda Rothenberg on harmonies to die for, all hail from the greater Catskill Mountains region. Amy and Small Town News have played the Philly Folk Fest, Clearwater Revival, Falcon Ridge, the Bottom Line, the legendary Weavers London, England and many more well-known venues.

Amy Fradon and Small Town News deliver a brand of music and performance that truly stands out in variety, talent, energy, vocals and most of all, heart. You will hear some of the best harmonies around, both subtle and show-stopping musicianship, wonderful songs and stories and of course, the unforgettable power and versatility of Amy's voice. 

Amy Fradon is the daughter of Dana Fradon cartoonist and author best known for his work with New Yorker Magazine. Amy’s mother is widely acclaimed for her work as the illustrator for the Brenda Starr comic strip and also for her work with DC/Marvel Comics. 

Research Sites

Amy Fradon: http://amyfradon.com

Egos and Epiphanies: The Self-Realization of Amy Fradon by Gary Alexander.  http://www.hvmusic.com/article/alexander/amy_fradon/

Vanaver Caravan: http://www.vanavercaravan.org/index.html

Woody Guthrie Foundation: http://www.woodyguthrie.org/biography.htm

Face The Music: http://www.facethemusicblues.com/

Leslie Ritter: http://www.leslieandscott.com/

Hildegard Von Bingen: http://www.hildegard.org/

Catalogue

Small Town News

Passion Angel

See www.amyfradon.com for Fradon & Ritter + Vanaver Caravan & others.  

Pat Tynan Media
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